Email: IEEE-USA Awards Banquet

NEWS from IEEE-USA 
2001 L Street, N.W., Suite 700 
Washington, DC 20036-4910 

Former NAE President & Science Debate 2008 Co-Founder Honored by IEEE-USA for Distinguished Public Service 

WASHINGTON (9 March 2010) -- IEEE Fellow and former National Academy of Engineering (NAE) President William Wulf and Science Debate 2008 co-founder Shawn Otto were honored with the IEEE-USA Award for Distinguished Public Service on Saturday night. 

The awards, presented during the IEEE-USA Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., recognize individuals not currently practicing engineering for contributions that further IEEE-USA's professional goals. 

Wulf was honored "for advancing engineering professionalism and promoting U.S. competitiveness in science and technology." 

Otto drew recognition "for taking the lead to elevate science and technology in America's public dialogue through Science Debate 2008." 

Wulf, the AT&T professor of computer science and university professor at the University of Virginia, received the first Ph.D. Virginia conferred in computer science in 1968. He taught at Carnegie-Mellon University and was founder and CEO of Tartan Laboratories in Pittsburgh. As assistant director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), he was responsible for computing research, the national supercomputer centers and NSFnet, the nation's first high-speed Internet backbone network. 

Wulf served from 1997-2007 as president of NAE, which was founded to provide engineering leadership that promotes the technological health of the nation. During his tenure, the National Academies issued "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future," a report that recommended 20 steps the United States should take to remain the world's innovation leader. 

Otto is a screenwriter, director, producer, political consultant, entrepreneur and CEO of Science Debate 2008, a nonprofit organization he and five others founded "to restore science and innovation to America's political dialogue." 

The organization is best known for having the two major 2008 presidential candidates provide written answers to 14 questions on the role of science and technology in America's future. Completed during the summer of 2008, it was the first time endorsed candidates for president had produced such detailed science policies. Topics included, among others, innovation, energy, education, national security, scientific integrity, research and health. See the Q&A at http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=42/. 

IEEE-USA was an organizational signer of Science Debate 2008: http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=7. 

Here's the full list of IEEE-USA's 2009 award recipients: 

Award for Distinguished Public Service 

Shawn Otto 
For taking the lead to elevate science and technology in America's public dialogue through Science Debate 2008 

William Wulf * 
For advancing engineering professionalism and promoting U.S. competitiveness in science and technology 


Citation of Honor 

Thomas C. Jepsen 
For leadership in advancing the vital role of technology in medical policy and healthcare delivery 

Mitchell A. Thornton 
For contributions to the advancement of software engineering licensure in the United States 

Regional Professional Leadership Award 

Loretta J. Arellano 
For leadership in volunteer development in Region 6 

G. Thomas Bellarmine 
For leadership in PACE (Professional Activities Committees for Engineers) activities in Region 3 

Carole C. Carey 
For establishing a Women in Engineering professional development seminar in Region 2 that rotates through IEEE U.S. regions 

Uri Moszkowicz 
For leadership in GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) and student activities in Region 1 

Darlene Rivera 
For leadership in Women in Engineering activities in Region 1 


Divisional Professional Leadership Award 

Kevin Taylor 
For leadership integrating IEEE Power & Energy Society participation in the IEEE-USA Annual Meeting 


Professional Achievement for Individuals 

Gary Bishop 
For leadership in support of GOLD and K-12 activities 

Kheng Swee Goh 
For leadership in GOLD and S-PAC (Student Professional Awareness Committee) activities inspiring young professionals 

Mike Hayes 
For leadership in organizing the Engineering Expo in Syracuse, N.Y. 

Vishnu Pandey 
For leadership in increasing GOLD participation at the 2009 IEEE-USA Annual Meeting 

John Richardson 
For leadership in preparing IEEE-USA's response to the FCC in the matter of "A National Broadband Plan for Our Future" 

Gordon Young 
For engaging local industry in the 2009 IEEE-USA Annual Meeting 


Professional Achievement for Organizations 

Boeing 
For promoting diversity in the workforce and environmental awareness, and for outstanding support of U.S. IEEE members 


Award for Distinguished Literary Contributions Furthering the Public Understanding of the Profession 

Randy Atkins 
For increasing public understanding of the profession through weekly radio "Engineering Innovation" reports 

Holly Morris 
For increasing public understanding of the profession through live television reporting of the National Engineers Week Future City Competition 


Award for Distinguished Literary Contributions Furthering Engineering Professionalism 

Lee Howard 
For investigative reports on the misuse of the H-1B visa program 


Harry Diamond Award 

James M. McGarrity 
For contributions to the understanding of radiation effects in microelectronics and to the development of defense electronics for harsh environments 


Precollege Teacher-Engineer Partnership Award 

George Haus and Richard Sanders 
For enhancing the learning experience of precollege students through a wide range of scientific activities 


IEEE-USA awards are approved by the organization's board of directors. The nomination deadline for 2010 awards is 31 July 2010. For additional information, go to www.ieeeusa.org/volunteers/committees/awards or contact Sandra Kim at sandra.kim@ieee.org. 

IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of more than 210,000 engineers, scientists and allied professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE. http://www.ieeeusa.org

* 2008 honoree 

Contact: Chris McManes 
IEEE-USA Public Relations Manager 
202-530-8356 
c.mcmanes@ieee.org